Australia vs India: 4th Test- India Predicted XI

During the course of their four-match Test series against Australia, India have had several issues to deal with. From some inconsistent batting shows to players not making the cut due to various reasons, India have been encountered with various challenges. But despite those mishaps, the visiting team, led by Virat Kohli, has been able to get their acts right and are currently leading the four-match series 2-1

The last and remaining encounter is scheduled to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), starting Thursday, January 3. India are yet to win a Test series on Australian soil in their 71-year-old history and Virat’s men need to at least draw the match in order to add another chapter in their glorious cricketing history. Ahead of the last match, we take you through the playing eleven India are likely to field.

Openers (Hanuma Vihari, Mayank Agarwal)

Frustrated with the performances of the opening batters- KL Rahul and Murali Vijay- in Adelaide and Perth respectively, the Indian team management decided to drop both of them in the last encounter. Even as Karnataka batsman Mayank Agarwal was handed his maiden international cap, Hanuma Vihari was promoted to open the batting. However, the tactic didn’t quite turn out to be an overall success.

Agarwal played with aplomb and scored his maiden half-century in the first innings. Moreover, he also showed his ability to graft and grind when Pat Cummins was running riot in the second innings at MCG. Vihari tried to buckle down, but couldn’t be successful. While Mayank is most likely to retain his spot, the team would want to give Vihari one more opportunity at the top of the order, facing the new cherry.

Middle-order (Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk))

The middle-order won’t be tinkered with by means. 30-year-old Virat Kohli and Saurashtra-batsman Cheteshwar Pujara have arguably been the standout batsmen in the series from either team. They have been encountered with the occasional failure here and there, but that won’t ring the alarm bells in the Indian camp as of now. India’s fate in the next match would again depend on how the two stalwarts bat.

A lot would also depend on how Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant performs in Sydney. They have churned out some useful runs but would want at least one significant knock under their belt. Rahane has a couple of half-centuries to his name while Pant has none. Pant has been fairly tidy with the gloves behind the wickets along with his propensity of constantly chirping away at the opposition batsmen.

All-rounder (Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja)

Ravindra Jadeja, after missing the first two Tests, was included for the Melbourne Test and he didn’t flatter to deceive with the leather, albeit he couldn’t score runs lower down the order. The Saurashtra cricketer finished with five wickets and made use of the rough patches created by the footmarks.

Rohit Sharma won’t play the next match and bearing in mind the speculated nature of the strip at SCG, India may rope in Ravi Ashwin, who didn’t play the last two matches dues to an abdominal strain. However, there’s no news on his fitness and in case he doesn’t get fit, Kuldeep Yadav may get a go.

Bowlers (Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah)

India’s dominating run in the red-ball fixtures has mostly been scripted by the fast bowling trio, including Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. They have a combined tally of 45 wickets and have turned out to be bones in Australia’s flesh. Ahmedabad-born Bumrah is the leading wicket of the series with 20 wickets and his best figures in Tests came at MCG as he finished with a six-wicket haul.

The spell earned him the Player of the Match award at the iconic venue. Moreover, the 25-year-old also ended the year as the third-highest Test wicket-taker. Ishant and Shami have also been stupendous and have been hard to pounce on. They have 11 and 14 wickets respectively. It won’t spring a surprise if India look up to their premier fast bowlers to step up with some impressive performances in Sydney.

Get the latest Cricket News and updates, Match Predictions, Fantasy Cricket Tips and lots more on CricTracker.com.